UN High-level Meeting on Disability and Development

Place: New York, United States of AmericaDate: 23 September 2013

The United Nations General Assembly will convene a High-level Meeting on Disability and Development for Heads of State and Government. The overarching theme of the meeting is "The way forward: a disability inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond."

The High-level Meeting will result in an action-oriented outcome document supporting the aims of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is an opportunity for the world leaders to take decisions to improve the health, well-being and inclusion of people with disabilities.

WHO's contribution

WHO has been actively involved in supporting preparations for the High-Level Meeting by: supporting regional consultations, hosting a technical briefing during the Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly; and providing technical input to various background documents.

The WHO Director-General and other staff will participate actively in the High-Level Meeting discussions.

WHO has worked for years in improving access to health and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities and intends to scale up its work following the High-Level Meeting. In this regard, an action plan is being developed .

The WHO and World Bank "World report on disability" and its recommendations are a key resource for this process.